Folding cover.



D. E. BONNER.

FOLDING COVER;

APPLICATION FILED AUG.26, I912- Patented June 27, 1916.

2 SHEETS-*SHEET INVENTOR ATTORIVEIG? WITNESSES TNB COLUMBIA FMNOORAPH C0 WASHINOTUNFD.

0. E. BONNER.

FOLDING COVER.

APPLICATION man Auehzs. 1912.

Patented J une 27, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2- INVENTOR miikm THE coLuMBlA YLANoonAPI-l 00., wAsmNu'r ON. B. c.

DOUGLAS E. BONNER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

FOLDING COVER.

Application filed August 26, 1912. Serial No. 716,985.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DOUGLAS E. BONNER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York city, county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Covers of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to tops, hoods or covers particularly adapted for use on vehicles of any description, on motor boats and as awnings or covers of any description and more specifically relates to that type of top, hood or cover which may be raised or lowered at will. It is well known to persons skilled in the art that one person has great difficulty in raising and lowering existing types of folding tops and that at best the manipulation of such tops is very slow, especially if the top is large and heavy and ofttimes requires the assistance of another person to effect the desired result. My im provement substantially overcomes these objections and provides a top which may be raised and lowered by one person with comparative ease and a. maximum of speed.

Other objects of my invention will appear from the description hereinafter and the. features of novelty will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompany-' ing drawings in which Figure 1 is a side elevation showing my improved top in its raised or operative position; Figs. 2 and 3 are similar views illustrating different positions assumed by the top "luring the lowering operation, Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the too fully lowered or folded; and Figs. 5 and 6 are enlarged fragmentarv elevations showing details of my invention. 4

In the drawings as an illustration of my invention the top is shown as applied to an automobile body and comprises a main or rear how 18 which has its free ends pivotally secured to brackets 19 located on opposite sides ofthe vehicle body, preferably near the rear thereof and another bow 21 which has its free ends pivotally secured to opposite members of the main how 18. This how 21 extends rearwardly' and upwardly from the main how 18 in the usual manner when the top is unfolded or raised as shown in Fig. 1, and forms therewith what might be termed a rear section. The top further comprises a secondary or front bow 8, the

free ends of which are provided with projections or studs 23 which are preferably formed with parallel flattened surfaces for the purpose to be more clearly set forth hereinafter. The bows 18 and 8 are connected together by means of members 14 and 10 pivoted thereto respectively at 16 and 7 and having their opposed ends pivotally secured to each other by means of a rule or stop joint or similar connection 12 capable of being broken only in an upward direction, said members thus forming an articulated link and being preferably duplicated at each side of the vehicle.

Braces 13 at opposite sides of the vehicle in the illustrated form of my invention have one end pivotally connected at 17 with the main or rear bow 18 at a point below the pivot 16 and their opposite ends pivotally connected to extensions or lugs 11 secured to or forming part of the members 10 and preferably depending therefrom in the unfolded or raised position of the top. The distance between each of the pivots 17 and 16 plus the distance between the pivots 16 and the center of the joints 12 is substantially equal to the distance from the center of the joints 12 to pivots 11 plus the distance between pivots 1'1 and 17. With this arrangement the parts are compelled to fold as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The members 10, one at each. side of the vehicle, are extended beyond the pivots 7 and have their outer ends pivotally connected by means of a rule or stop joint 4 with the free ends of an outrigger or peak bow 2, the said rule joint 4 being arranged to break downwardly only. Braces 5 at opposite sides of the vehicle have one end pivotally connected at 6 with the auxiliary bow Specification of Letters Patent. Patentgd June 2'? 1916,

8 preferably at a point above the point 7,

and their other ends pivotally connected at 3 to the outrigger or peak bow 2. Similarly here the distance between the pivots 6 and 7 plus the distance between the pivots, 7 and the centers ofthe joints 4 is approximately equal to the distancebetween the centers of the stop joints4 and pivots 3' plus the distance between the pivots 3 and 6. This ar of the top. It is to be understood that the usualv cover 20 of fabric or any suitable material is secured to thebows in any suitable manner, the lower edge of said cover being indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1. In the raised or unfolded condition of the top the projections or studs 23 are located in apertures formed in the brackets 9, said brackets being further slotted through their peripheries as indicated at 25, the width of said slots being less than the diameter of the apertures in the brackets 9. In other words these slots are wide enough to permit the projections 23 to pass out of the apertures in the brackets 9 when said slots register with the flattened portions of said projections 23, but prevent removal of said projections 23 when in any other relative position. With the projections 23 in the brackets 9 the bow 8 will extend upwardly therefrom and will be rigidly maintained in this position by meansof the members 14 and 10 and the .braces 13, while the outrigger or peak bow 2 will be suspended in front of the bow 8 and will be rigidly supported by means of the braces 5. If desired the usual straps 1 may be provided and connected in the usual manner with the peak bow and the vehicle body to prevent undue vibration of the top. The braces 5 substantially prevent the weight of the bow 2 and top material and the pull exerted by the straps 1 from accidentally breaking the joint 12 upwardly. The braces 5 transform the downward pull on the bow 2 into a tension on braces 5 and a thrust almost horizontal on the members 10.

lVhen it is desired to lower or fold my improved top the straps 1, if used, are first released after which the joint 12 is broken in an upward direction. The outrigger or peak bow 2 is now pressed upward and rearward to cause the bow 8 to swing in the brackets 9 to the inclined or canted position shown in dotted lines 26 in Fig. 6. In this position the flattened portions of the projections 23 register with the slots 25 and said projections may be readily passed through said slots to release the bow 8 from the brackets 9. A continued pressure on the peak bow 2 or on the bow 8 will cause the parts to assume substantially the position shown in Fig. 2 and to finally reach the position shown in Fig. 3, it being understood that the bow 8 may be canted or inclined and the projections 23 inserted through slots 28 and into apertures in brackets 15 located on the main bow 18 just before the position shown in Fig. 3 is reached, said brackets 15 being similar to the brackets 9. In its transit from the raised position shown in Fig. 1 to the positions shown in Figs. 2 and 3 the entire forward portion of the top is suspended and prevented from dropping through the cooperation of the members 10 and 14 and the brace 13. No attention need therefore be paid to the auxiliary bow 8 and the same is automatically kept out of contact with and free and clear of the vehicle body during the above operation. If the rear pressure is now further continued the top will finally assume the completely lowered position in Fig. 4. In order to secure a compact folded position the members 14 and 10 may be provided with recesses properly located to receive and accommodate the pivots 11 and 6 respectively as is shown best in Figs. 3 and 4.

When it is desired to raise the top a pressure exerted upward and then forward on the bow 8 will first bring the top from the position shown in Fig. 4 to the position illustrated in Fig. 3. A continued forward pressure exerted on the bow 8 will swing said bow in the brackets 15 and bring it to the inclined position shown by dotted lines 27 in Fig. 5. In this position the flattened portions of the projections 28 are in registry with the slots 28 and the said projections may be readily and easily removed from the brackets 15. The bow 8 may now be moved toward the front of the vehicle and finally again inclined as shown by dotted lines 26 in Fig. 6 to permit the projections 23 to be inserted through the slots 25 into the openings in the brackets 9. After this has been done the bow 8 is swung in said brackets to an upright position until the members 14 and 10 have straightened out and the outrigger or peak bow 2 properly positioned and further movement is arrested by the stop joints 4 and 12 in which conditions of the parts the cover 20 is fully extended and completely covers the vehicle. The straps 1 if used may now be connected in the usual manner to secure the top against undue vibration. As in the lowering or folding operation, the forward portion of the top will be suspended out of contact with the vehicle body during its transit from the closed to the open or raised position. This result is still further assured by locating the pivot 11 at a distance from the joint 12 and below a line drawn through the pivot 7 and the center of the joint 12 when the top is raised, an arrangement which will cause the bottom of. the bow 8 to move rearwardly in an are having its crown upward. This construction makes itabsolutely certain that the lower ends of the bow 8 during its forward and rearward movement will remain safely above the sides of the vehicle body. While my device as shown does not compel bow 8 to remain parallel to the bow 18 during said forward and rearward movement, it is to be understood that additional members could be readily applied to compel it to do so should this be desired. It will be seen that the bow 8 cannot be detached from or attached to the forward brackets 9 or rear brackets 15 without first being canted or inclined to a predetermined position so that accidental dislocation of this bow and its connected parts is absolutely prevented. Instead of constructing the brackets 9 and 15 with slots as shown the same may simply be provided with apertures into and from changes in the specific form shown and dewhich the projections 23 are inserted and scribed may bemade within the scope of the removed by a movement in an axial direcclaims without departing from the spirit of tion; accidental removal in this case being my invention. 6 prevented by means of cotter pins or the I claim like. These cotter pins may also be used if 1. A folding cover comprising a main how desired in the form of my invention as illusmovably connected with the element to be trated and are indicated as 24 in Fig. 6. covered, a secondary bow adapted to be de- In practice I prefer to duplicate the memtachably secured to said element, an articu- 1 bers 5, 10, 13 and 14 on each side of the top lated link pivotally connected with each of and preferably on the outside of the cover said bows, a peak bow pivotally connected 20 although said members could as readily with said link, a brace pivotally connected be positioned inside of said cover if deemed with said main bow and said link and a secadvisable. ond brace pivotally connected with said sec- 15 It will be clear that instead of the straps 1 ondary bow and said peak bow, said braces I may provide any other means for steadywhen in operative position extending in oping the top suitable for this purpose. posite directions from a line drawn length- An important feature of my invention rewise through said link.

sides in the fact that it can be applied to 2. A folding cover comprising a main bow existing tops already in use and when so apmovably connected with the element to be plied adds strength and rigidity thereto. covered, a secondary bow adapted to be de- It is to'be understood that, while I have tachably secured to said element, an articushown and described my improvement in lated link pivotally connected with each of connection with an automobile, this is only said bows, a peak bow pivotally connected one instance of the many uses to which said with said link, a bracepivotally connected improvement may be put. For instance, my with said main bow at a point below said improved top may be used in connection link and also pivotally connected with said with any type of vehicle, or with any type link and a second brace pivotally connected of boat desired, and may further be utilized with said secondary bow at a point above as an awning to cover stationary objects, and said link and also pivotally connected with the claims are to be construed accordingly. said peak bow.

In addition to the above it will be apparent In testimony whereof I have hereunto set that additional bows such as 8 and addimy hand in the presence of two subscribing tional connections such as slpwnfmay be prowitnesses.

vided to secure a top capa e 0 covering a larger area than the one shown if found de- DOUGLAS BONNER sirable. It is to be further understood that Witnesses:

,I do not limit myself to the exact and par- J OHN A. KEHLENBnoK,

ticular arrangement shown and that various LOUIS ALEXANDER.

coplel of thin patent may be obtained tot he cent: each, by addressing the "Commissioner or latent,

Washington, D. C." Y 

